Coleman's title leads Johnson golf to third place

By Blake Hurtik :
April 30, 2013
: Updated: May 1, 2013 2:40am

Johnson's Taylor Coleman, watching a shot fly Tuesday, won the Class 5A state title with a two-day score of 6-under 138.

Photo By Bob Owen/San Antonio Express-News

Jake Goodman of Johnson High School hits his drive on the 18th during the final round of the 5A State Golf Tournament at Morris Williams Golf Course in Austin on Tuesday April 30, 2013.

Photo By Bob Owen/San Antonio Express-News

Jake Goodman of Johnson High School give a fist pump after making a birdie on the 17th during the final round of the 5A State Golf Tournament at Morris Williams Golf Course in Austin on Tuesday April 30, 2013.

Photo By Bob Owen/San Antonio Express-News

Chase Brincat of Chuchill High School watches his drive on the 9th hole during the final round of the 5A State Golf Tournament at Morris Williams Golf Course in Austin on Tuesday April 30, 2013.

Photo By Bob Owen/San Antonio Express-News

Case Hollenbeck of Reagan High School hits from behind a tree on the 17th during the final round of the 5A State Golf Tournament at Morris Williams Golf Course in Austin on Tuesday April 30, 2013.

Photo By Bob Owen/San Antonio Express-News

Case Hollenbeck of Reagan High School hits his drive on the 18th during the final round of the 5A State Golf Tournament at Morris Williams Golf Course in Austin on Tuesday April 30, 2013.

Photo By Bob Owen/San Antonio Express-News

Kyle Francis of Reagan High School tries to finesse his chip shot in the 17th hole during the 5A State Golf Tournament at Morris Williams Golf Course in Austin on Tuesday April 30, 2013.

Photo By Bob Owen/San Antonio Express-News

Val Almendarez of Reagan High School shows his frustration after a bad chip shot to the 17th green during the 5A State Golf Tournament at Morris Williams Golf Course in Austin on Tuesday April 30, 2013.

Photo By Bob Owen/San Antonio Express-News

Conner Bjugstad of Reagan High School hits his drive on the 18th during the final round of the 5A State Golf Tournament at Morris Williams Golf Course in Austin on Tuesday April 30, 2013.

Photo By Bob Owen/San Antonio Express-News

Taylor Coleman of Johnson High School reacts after missing a birdie putt during the 5A State Golf Tournament at Morris Williams Golf Course in Austin on Tuesday April 30, 2013. Coleman is the State Champion. She went on to win the State title.

Photo By Bob Owen/San Antonio Express-News

Taylor Coleman of Johnson High School hits her tee shot on the 13th during the 5A State Golf Tournament at Morris Williams Golf Course in Austin on Tuesday April 30, 2013. Coleman is the State Champion. She went on to win the State title.

Photo By Bob Owen/San Antonio Express-News

Kelly Contreras of Reagan High School follows her tee shot on the 13th hole during the 5A State Golf Tournament at Morris Williams Golf Course in Austin on Tuesday April 30, 2013.

Photo By Bob Owen/San Antonio Express-News

Maggie Byers of Churchill High School follows her drive on the 5th hole during the 5A State Golf Tournament at Morris Williams Golf Course in Austin on Tuesday April 30, 2013.

AUSTIN — Over the last week, Taylor Coleman padded her résumé with a regional championship and an LPGA tour appearance.

The Johnson sophomore can add a state championship to that list.

Coleman closed out the Class 5A state golf tournament Tuesday with three straight birdies for a 67 on the day and a 6-under 138 overall to win the girls title at Morris Williams Golf Course.

“It's been awesome knowing that I could come out here and win it,” Coleman said. “To win district, region and now state is pretty cool, I think.”

Despite her recent success, Coleman has made a habit out of slow starts. She did again Tuesday with a bogey on her first hole, but rebounded with three birdies on the front nine.

A bogey on No. 15 and a tee shot into the trees on No. 16 looked to jeopardize her title chances, but Coleman finished strong and won the tournament by three strokes.

“I just had a good feeling going into those last three holes,” she said.

Coleman's gold wasn't the only hardware the Jaguars earned in Austin. A year after placing last at state, the Johnson girls took third with a two-day total of 614. Nikki Long shot even par both days to finish tied for fourth. Lake Travis won the team title at 598.

On the boys side, Reagan (584) and Johnson (586) finished strong to take fourth and sixth overall, respectively.

But it was nothing compared to state champion Lake Travis' second-day round of 277 for a total of 571. Four Cavaliers came in below par for the day, and Klein Klotz sank a hole-in-one in a playoff to win second place.

“We were a little shaky, but we fought hard and were able to get it to where we thought we needed to be,” said Reagan senior Val Almendarez, who tied for eighth with a 72-70. “Lake Travis' round was just amazing.”

Johnson senior Jake Goodman, a Texas A&M signee, carded a 4-under 68. He birdied his last two holes to finish at 140 for the tournament and tied for fifth place.

“I'm feeling pretty good. I left a lot out there,” Goodman said. “I had two 5-foot putts for birdie that I missed today, but I'm not complaining. A 68 is great. I wish I had one more year at it.”

O'Connor, making its first state appearance, finished 10th. Senior Chris Schreidel led the Panthers with a 146.

Mansfield (576) took second. Southlake Carroll (582) placed third.

“We made a run at it, but it wasn't anything like Lake Travis today,” Goodman said. “A 277? That's insane.”